Top for vehicles and the like



F. K. LEWIS.-

TOP FOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

APPUlCATlON FILED MAR. 29, 1919.

Patenmdl May 31, 1921.

Ii v@/g TTOEZIVEV$ JVVENTOE/ 2760 Lem/As PATENT FRED K. LEWIS, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO.

TOP FOB VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented May er, ieei.

Application filed March 29, 1919. Serial No. 286,123.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED K; LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tops for Vehicles and the like, of which the following is a speclfication, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements relate more particularly ,to tops of the so-called one man type, such as are now extensively used on automobiles. In this type of top, the extreme forward, or outrigger bow as it 1s called, is carried by means of swinging arms pivotally attached to the main bow at some distance from the point of pivotal attachment of the latter to the vehicle body, so that such arms, with such outrigger bow, extend substantially horizontally in the open position of the top, and together constitute what may be termed an articulated auxiliary bow. To each of these arms, or the rear portions of such articulated auxiliary bow, there is in turn usually attached an intermediate or supplemental bow, the function of which is tosupport the stretch of cover material between the main bow and the outrigger bow proper.

The object of the present invention is to provide suitable operative connections between the outrigger bow, main bow and such intermediate or supplemental bow, whereby these several bows may be supported in proper relation when the top is in open or extended position, and whereby they will be moved in unison in the folding and unfolding of the top. It is particularly desirable scription setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constltutlng, however, but

one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a top supporting structure embodying my present improvements, such structure being shown as mounted on automobile body or tonneau of conventional form; Fig. 2 is a similar side elevational view of the essential operative parts of a modified form of such top supporting structure; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing still another modification in construction; and Fig. 4% illustrates the same construction as does Fig. 3, but with the structure in partially folded condition.

It is ofcourse a matter of indifference whether the top is used on automobile, motor-boat or otherwise, and, depending upon its longitudinal extent, a smaller or larger number of bows, in addition to the outrigger structure of present interest, may be utilized. It will also be understood that the term bow is used herein inclusively to designate not merely the wooden bow proper, but also the metallic sockets carrying the same, these parts when regarded in side elevation constituting the equivalent of the so-called sticks, as they are called, in the old wood structure. It is accordingly a matter of convenience to refer to the parts in the singular, as though the structure all lay in a single vertical plane, since the parts do actually lie in such a plane.

Referring, first of all, to the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, the top covering 1 is designed to be entirely supported through an appropriate outrigger from a single main bow 2. The latter, which is of substantial construction, in view of the weight it is thus designed to carry, is pivotally supported upon or attached to the body at the point 3 in the usual manner, so that it may be laid down and carried in a substantially horizontal plane when the top is not in use. Normally, in the extended or open condition of the top, said main bow 2 inclines rearwardly at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to the horizontal, being held from rising higher by the top covering or rather by special straps (not shown), or extensions of the longitudinal strainers, which, as is well known, are used to connect the bows together and provide supporting means for the top covering intermediately between said bowsi For the purpose in hand such straps or strainers may be regarded as a part of the covering material.

The outrigger structure comprises a main articulated auxiliary bow, or, as it is sometimes called, outrigger bow 6, the latter term referring more particularly to the outer portion or how 7 proper, which is secured to the main bow 2 by means of an arm 8 (one on each side of course) pivotally attached to said main bow and to the rear end of such outrigger bow, and so constituting the inner portion of said articulated auxiliary bow 6. The point of attachment of this arm to the main bow is preferably in line with, or just above, the sideedge of the cover, so as to be hidden by the latter, and the joint 9 between said arm and the outrigger bow is a rule or look joint disposed so as to prevent further bending of the arm in question, when ex? tended in horizontal fashion, as in open condition of the top illustrated in Fig. 1.

Pivotally attached to the arm 8 is a supplemental bow 10 whose angular position in the open condition of the top is so adjusted, by means presently to be described, as to support the top covering at a suitable point intermediate between main bow 2 and outrigger bow 7. For the purpose of operatively connecting this supplemental bow with said main and outrigger bows, I employ a three-part articulated link or brace, the longer part 11 thereof being pivotally attached at its forward end to the outrigger bow at a point slightly in advance of the joint 9 therein, while said link-part is similarly pivotally attached near its rear end to the supplemental bow adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of the latter to the swinging side arm 8. In the form of construction under consideration said link-part 11 projects beyond its point of attachment to said supplemental bow, the other parts 12 and 13 connecting such extension with the main bow 2, or rather with a bracket 14 thereon, which at'the same time provides the pivot for attachment of the swinging side arm 8 to said bow. The intermediate link-part 12 is relatively short compared with both the other link parts, and functionsin a sense'as an equalizer member, rendering the connection between the supplemental bow and the main bow a flexible one, and so permitting such supplemental how a range of movement that would not be possible if only two linkparts were employed, or if, as has been attempted, a single long link or brace were utilized to connect the three bows in question together.

curate correlation in' the swinging movement g of the various parts, is avoided through the flexible character of the connection provided. This flexibility is of equal importance in the setting up of the top during the course of manufacture, since it allows a certain latitude in the location of the intermediate bow.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 2 the arrangement of bows is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 1, and just described above, the only difference consisting in the arrangement of the parts of the ar ticulated link or brace. The forward member 11 does not have in this case a rearwardly projecting extension beyond the point of its pivotal attachment to the-intermediate bow 10, but the intermediate or equalizer link 12 is connected with said part 11 forwardly of its point of attachment with said intermediate how. The remaining part 13 which is attached to the bracket 14 is, to all intents and purposes, the same as the part 13 in the first described construction. It will benoted that the rear end of linkpart 11 is dropped, 2'. e. curves downwardly 90 so as to allow the point of pivotal connection of the intermediate link 12 to clear the point of connection of said part 11 with the intermediate bow. The mode of operation of this form of the invention is the same as that already described.

In the remaining construction, that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4c, the arrangement of main, outrigger and intermediate bows, is again the same as that described in connection with the form shown in Fig. 1, and the three-part articulated link or brace is likewise very similar, the difference lying primarily in the use of a lock joint 15 be.- tween the rear link-part 18 and intermediate or equalizer part 12", whereby an increased degree of rigidity is obtained in the extended or open position of the top structure. Also the rear extension 16 of the forward linkpart 11 curves upwardly slightly, and in the 110 extended position of the parts, said inter- V mediate link 12 inclines downwardly in a reverse direction therefrom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The manner in which the parts in this particular construction fold together, 115 is well illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows the top structure in its. partially folded position, 6. with the outrigger and intermediate bows brought into parallel. relation with the main how. I

' In all three modifications of the structure it is dcsirableto provide a stop 17 on the swinging side arm 8 which engages with the intermediate how 10' so as to determine its position when the top is open or extended. 12 The action of this stop, in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 3, is of coursesupplemental to that of the top joint 15 between link-parts 12 and 13 7 The improved top supporting structure is 130 particularly adapted for use on roadster and close-coupled types of automobile bodies, but by proper proportioning of the length of bows employed, may be utilized on tour ing car bodies as well.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; a two-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotally connected to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally connected to such rear portion of said auxiliary bow; a link pivotally attached to said supplemental bow and to said auxiliary bow beyond the joint therein; and a flexible member connecting said link with said main bow.

2. In a top for vehicles and the like the combination of a main bow; a two-part ar ticulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotally connected to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally connected to such rear portion of said auxiliary bow; a link pivotally attached to said supplemental bow and to said auxiliary bow beyond the joint therein; and a flexible member consisting of plural interconnected links connecting said first link with said main bow.

8. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; a two-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotally connected to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally connected to such rear portion of said auxiliary bow; a link pivotally attached to said supplemental bow and to said auxiliary bow beyond the joint therein; and two other links pivotally connected together the one thereof being pivotally attached to said first link and the other being similarly attached to said main bow.

4. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; a two-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotally connected to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally connected to such rear portion of said auxiliary bow; a link pivotally attached to said supple mental bow and to said auxiliary how beyond the joint therein; and two other links, one relatively short. pivotally connected together, said short link being pivotally attached to said first link and the long one to said main bow.

5. In a top for Vehicles and the like the combination of a main bow; a two-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotally connected to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally connected to such rear portion of said auxiliary bow; a link pivotally attached to said supplemental bow and to said auxiliary bow beyond the joint therein; and two other links pivotally connected together by a joint adapted to lock in the extended position of the parts, said links being respectively pivotally attached to said first link and said main bow.

Signed by me, 26th day of March, 1919.

FRED K. LEWIS. 

